Dangerous cladding: the government’s remediation portfolio

The National Audit Office (NAO) has recently put forward proposals for the regulation of cladding on buildings over 11 metres in height, aiming to address safety concerns in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire disaster. These new guidelines focus on improving building safety standards, with a particular emphasis on the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding systems in both public and private sector buildings.

The proposals highlight the urgency of ensuring that the regulatory framework for building safety is robust and up-to-date. The NAO's report indicates that while progress has been made in the past few years, significant challenges remain. The government has allocated funding for remediation works, but there are concerns about delays in delivery and the broader impact on residents, landlords, and local authorities.

One of the key aspects of the NAO's recommendations is the need for more effective coordination between all parties involved—government, building owners, contractors, and safety regulators. The report stresses the importance of transparent oversight and ensuring that remediation works are carried out as quickly as possible to protect residents and restore confidence in building safety.

As the UK continues to navigate the complexities of post-Grenfell building safety reform, the NAO’s proposals will likely play a crucial role in shaping future policy and ensuring the safety of residents in high-rise buildings.

Key facts:

£16.6bn estimated total cost to fix unsafe cladding on all residential buildings over 11 metres in England,

The current best estimate from a range of £12.6 billion to £22.4 billion

£5.1bn total taxpayer towards fixing unsafe cladding in England in the long term.

4,771 buildings taller than 11 metres with unsafe cladding within MHCLG’s remediation portfolio as of August 2024, out of an

9,000–12,000 buildings requiring remediation.£2.3 billion spent by MHCLG on the remediation of buildings with unsafe cladding as of August 2024.

2035 date by which MHCLG – based on its modelling – currently estimates remediation to be complete on all buildings in England over 11 metres with unsafe cladding

NAO: read a summary of the report here.

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